[Mindybeth6]

Teacher Behavior Management Plans typically vary from classroom to classroom depending on what the teacher is like and what her styles are. The teachers in MY district got that taken away from them this year because the district decided to implement a SCHOOL WIDE policy across the baord.....meaning grades K-12 have the SAME policy pretty much. My school has won countless awards nationally for their practices, but this I do NOT agree with and I think this plan will backfire on them. Truly. You can not give a child who is 5 detention and expect them to first of all understand it, and second of all remember why they are getting it 3 days AFTER the day they earned it, and lastly, make the parents take their children to school a half and an hour early to HAVE the dentention. I feel it is unfair to the children, the parents, and the teachers who do not LIKE this policy but are now forced to use it. I am MAD about it and don't think I will be signing the paper on Thursday when I go in. While the other "steps" in their program I can agree to, I will not agree to detention for my kindergarten child.

[DeeVee]

I read some of the replies, but not all (yet). The policy is not great, but her attitude is what really stinks. I know all the other classes are full, but I would INSIST on another teacher or another school. There is no way I would want my kid to have her be the first techer he ever had.

[GCS]

As the parent of a SID kid who really needs that physical activity during the day this punishment would impact my child's ability to learn. Many children, boys especially, really need that physical outlet to continue to process information during the day. It seems to me that taking recess away from a child this age is completely inappropriate.

I have to agree with the above posters that her delivery and attitude about this are especially shocking! Why on earth would someone with this mindset choose to teach Kindergarten? This makes me want to go and kiss my son's K teacher from last year! Sticker charts are the best!

[missylaw]

Wow, how sad that she is so ignorant. K is suppose to be fun with learning and to have a teacher that makes your first school experience unbearable is setting the kids up for poor attitudes for the next year/years. She is SO out of line. I would call everyone I can think of and complain. They are 5 for goodness sake. I agree there needs to be some form of dicipline but walking at recess while everyone else is playing would be humiliating to any child....I had to read your post three times because I was certain I had read it wrong!!!! Good luck
Missy

[Teri33]

I would never in a million years want to be a teacher in a school district because you are no longer able to keep control of your class. Is a teacher just supposed to tell a kid 50 times a day to not do that. If one child sees a kid getting away with something, another child is going to try it out. What discipline do you want the teacher to do. Would you rather your child be sent to the principal for discipline so that you can get a phone call every day instead of them doing a time out?

The school district I live in has a policy, if another child didn't see or hear it happen, it never happend. So kids are able to cuss, hit, whatever their teacher and not get into any trouble as long as no one else saw it. What message is this sending to our kids? Discipline starts at a very young age and if it is not learned while they are young, good luck with them as teenagers and adults.

My child has to stand in the corner when she is in trouble, is this physical punishement? I don't think so. She's is still the little girl who always has a smile and gets complimented for being well behaved and polite by strangers. No harm done.

[jennsult]

I totally agree that not only is her attitude unacceptable, that kind of punishment for a 5 year old is crazy. She should not be teaching that age if that is her attitude. How awful for kids to experience someone like that so early in the school process. That's why so many kids hate school, because of teachers like her. You mentioned she is having a baby, oh that poor thing! Best of luck to you.

[crick]

After reading some replies, I wanted to just comment on a few things.

1. If you have a child who gets a 3rd, 4th & 5th warning on something, then clearly either what you are doing is ineffective or the child is in need of more structure than a basic classroom provides. There should be no need for a 3rd warning on TRUE issues. If there is, something isn't right and missing recess or walking the fence is NOT going to correct the issue.

2. I find with these types of teachers, they tend to find fault with EVERYTHING. Meaning, they truly do have a discipline focus and not an education focus. While both work together in a classroom setting, I've found the more a teacher focuses on discipline and consequences, the more the class as a whole suffers and yes, acts out. Learning is supposed to be fun and provided in an environment that encourages rather than discourages. If a child feels they can't do ANYTHING right, they are not going to learn anything.

3. Kindergarten is not the same as it was for us - it's more than glorified preschool these days. However, that doesn't mean a typical 5 year old's mind has developed beyond what the expectations are. You show me a 5 year old that can sit quietly ALL day long, behave perfectly like a mini adult, and I'll show you that same kid at age 9 totally burnt out on school and has no zest for learning at all. Oh, they'll be good students perhaps, but their passion will not be there, imo. *exceptions in every case, yes, I know*

With 4 kids in the public school system, I've dealt with a lot of teachers. The ones that had a great attitude, true passion for their job and focus was on "What can your child learn this year AND LOVE IT" were the best ones. The ones that did nothing more than talk about their behavioral expectations...worst ones and the worst experiences for my kids.

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by Teri33

I would never in a million years want to be a teacher in a school district because you are no longer able to keep control of your class. Is a teacher just supposed to tell a kid 50 times a day to not do that.

no.but walking at recess is not the only way to control a child. actually, i don't think it will work for most kids at all....but there are lots of options teachers learn about when they go to school.

Would you rather your child be sent to the principal for discipline so that you can get a phone call every day instead of them doing a time out?

yes....if the only other option is physical and humilitating.

Discipline starts at a very young age and if it is not learned while they are young, good luck with them as teenagers and adults.

you are right....but good luck with them as teenagers anyway but again physical and humiliating discipline is not the only option.

[Teri33]

I do agree that physical punishment is not the only option, but humiliating? Anytime a child has to be separated from the group is humiliating so what is the difference if they are walking the fence or just sitting there? I would rather my child walk the fence and get some exercise out of it than just sitting there like not doing a thing, they might as well be watching tv at that rate.

Bottom line, if you don't like that teachers discipline, transfer to a different class. If I did not like what a teacher would do for my child, I would just ask for a class change. Is this an option?

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by Teri33

I would just ask for a class change. Is this an option?

you are right....that would be my best option. i agree. every class is full .

[Teri33]

Did you contact the school district (central office) to see what you could do about this?

[bajj]

I put no. My son's school does that for all ages. I think it makes exercise seem like a punishment. Right now he loves running and going on walks. He hasn't gotten in trouble yet, but if he does, I have a feeling it won't take long for "fun" exercise to seem like punishment.

But then again, when I was in school, we had to do push ups, so I guess walking isn't as bad, but I still don't like it. His teacher's reasoning is, "This way they are still moving and getting some exercise rather than just sitting during lifetime." They call recess lifetime. I have no clue why.

[BrockBaby]

Wow...I just read all the posts...lol

Here is my little opinion. The fact that the teacher made such a HUGE issue over her discipline is the concern for me. I own two daycare centers. I have kids from 6 weeks to 12 years of age. When I do an intake interview/tour with a new parent, I am not spouting off "My 50 Consequences for the Top Ten Offenses Committed by Children" speal...I don't even have a speal about that!! We do the time out. What people fail to realize...time out is not necessarily meant for PUNISHMENT...it is suppose to be used for a child to regain composure so that they can rejoin the group. So, yes..it is usually because a child is doing something that isn't appropriate...but we need to take that time to be a TEACHABLE moment. TALK to them...find out WHY they were doing what they were doing....perhaps something happened that you didn't see (example Joey hit him first....ect). Then talk to them to find out what better choice they could make.....ask them how it feels if someone does it to them. Discipline, in my opinion, is a way of teaching that the choices we make have consequences....and that we can learn from that.

I have a problem with any "one size fits all" for discipline. I have had kids who could care less if they were sitting in time out...walking a fence (which I've never done!!!!!!! or even thought of)...or any of the other things we think kids care about. We have to KNOW the kids we are teaching...it's our job. It's amazing what we can learn about the kids if we take the time to get to KNOW them..I personally think that that is the teachers responsiblitity. I don't buy into there are too many of them..blah blah blah....I think we concentrate too much on the behavior that bothers US as adults. We always say that the behavior bothers the other students...and yes, sometimes it does...but honestly..usually it's the teachers reaction that bothers the other kids the most! Most of the time, they aren't bothered by what is "normal" for them! I would really like to know what infractions she thinks is deserving of this kind of punishment. Who cares if a kid can't sit still in a seat??? Put them in the back row...let them stand..they won't be bothering anyone. I remember a teacher in college telling me that she had a student that would twirl. So she put his desk in the back..said, twirl all you want..as long as you get your work done and pay attention. The child did well. Were the other kids distracted??? NOPE. Did they all want to get up and twirl? NOPE. So..what was the big deal!? Perhaps this teacher needs some lessons on what is appropriate behavior for a 5 year old! Does she just have them sitting?!?! She needs to plan her day better if she does....have them doing transitions. Getting up and doing some songs and movement between things. Allow them to talk quietly while doing what I call "busy work". Then address issues if you need to. I have expectations for the kids I teach...I do preschool..and the thing is...95% of the time..they meet them. When we are having a "bad day" I look at what I am doing. What can I change differently?!!? What is our NEED today. Perhaps it is a time to get up and shake out our sillies. I am not saying that we allow kids to behave in a manner that is disrespectful..or anything like that...but just to remember that they are little kids!!! And they have a LONG journey of learning ahead of them...let's set the right pace.

SORRY THIS WAS A NOVEL...guess I got on my SOAPBOX!!!!!!!!!!!!

[akasohappy]

Some teachers at our school have the same policy.
I actually discussed with my son last night that Mrs. P is going to make you walk for half, if not all of recess tomorrow because you forgot to bring home your agenda and spelling words to be signed off on.
This has been the "punishment" at his school for a couple years now. He LOVES recess so much that this is a real punishment for him. He is in 3rd grade.
You get 1 warning and if you are disciplined again you walk half of recess and if you are disciplined again you lose your whole recess.
I have seen some kids "sitting" out before, but I actually like the walking better than the sitting (excercise). Yes, it does "single" the kids out, but when I was there (used to put in over 100 hours a year of volunteer hours at the elem. until DD came home) the other kids don't really seem to notice anyways they are too busy playing. I do not believe in a one size fits all punishment policy.
I went to school in the days of paddling (I am 34) and the walking doesn't seem that bad to me. When my son was in K the policy was that you lost free time and had to read or at least sit at your desk and look at a book during part of free time or special area.
My biggest issue with her would be her ATTITUDE.
She doesn't sound like someone who needs to be teaching 5 year olds. IMHO
I would call the central office and see if you can get moved out of her classroom.

[2xaround]

Originally Posted by mommytoEli

all the classes are full. the good news is she is having a baby and will be out all of october, nov, dec, maybe she will really REALLY enjoy being home with that baby.

What's the infraction for an infant who doesn't comply with the rules? Crawling the fence during recess?

I'm glad you didn't sign. I too can see all kinds of holes in her discipline policy.

1. Asking a 5 or 6 year old to suffer the consequences more than about 5 or 6 minutes is just excessive.

2. What if the infraction happened early in the day, what good is discipline later in the day?

3. These are kindergarten students and a big part of their school learning experience is socialization. She's removing an entire section of their learning experience if she is removing them for an entire period of the day.

The sad thing is that there are probably a lot of parents that signed the form because they felt they had to sign or were too afraid to challenge the

Keep us posted on the teacher's reaction when she reads what you wrote on the form.